Without another word, a final looked at Cassie gravestone, he stepped back into another side of the compound backyard.
Cities fall, families crumble, and empires fade. Yet life persists in the ruins, stubborn and relentless. Maybe survival is less about glory, and more about the scars we bear while moving forward.
In the mist of his thoughts. He stood before a long, tall staircase carved into a cliffside, ontop he could see a large tall triangle cracked stone structure, covered with green moss.
"First time in years… and I'm the one who crosses the line. I never should've to do this… not without you, Cassie."
He had still entertained the thought… however faint that something in her family's history could be unlocked if he just went deep enough.
But now that she was gone… she wasn't even able to see the entrance.
Without hesitation. He climbed the staircase. Each step echoed against ancient stone, only in silence. Though technically still within the city's ground level, the stairs ascended so high it felt like leaving the world behind.
By the time he reached the summit. He paused, his shoulder dropped suddenly… eyes drawn to the horizon. The city's skyline stretched out before him.
"Such a beautiful sight…" he murmured. "I never got to share this with you... Not even the outside world."
A heavy sigh escaped his lips, he turned.
Behind him stood a massive stone archway. Towering. And yet… it led to nothing, just a blank wall of seamless stone?
But Lucian knew better.
Before the climb, he'd spoken to Richie... He had always dreamed of returning this place. Cassie father had once allowed her to speak of it, but only in fragments. And Richie told him… the full truth, warned what might lie beyond.
He had climbed these steps once, years ago, to retrieve the Keik Relic.
"There's no way back…" he whispered.
"I need to do this... For Halcyon."
I'm such a hypocrite. I should've done this long ago… and with Cassie. I owed her that much.
He paused, taking a deep breath.
"I remember a few spots where something valuable might be. I'll go there… even if it's risky."
The Sea of Devils… it's not really a sea. More like a massive, broken basin. Mountain ranges cut through it like jagged scars. No trees, just strange plants, growing in places they shouldn't. A cursed place, maybe… but that's where I need to pass.
After a long moment in silent contemplation, Lucian reached into his coat and drew out a golden token… etched with the symbol of an ancient flower, delicate and unknown.
He bit into his thumb until blood flowed, then pressed it to the token's surface… The token sudden pulsed… glowing with a vivid green light, alive with power long dormant.
Raising it toward the stone archway, Lucian took a step back.
As a surge of energy burst forward, slamming into the seamless stone. The wall groaned, and a low hum resonated through the air as a shimmering curtain of green light bloomed within the arch.
He saw, beyond it just barely visible… was a strange world, a cracked desert earth, twisted alien flora, tall mountains and a vast, pale horizon that seemed to go on forever.
Lucian's lips dropped into a frown… Cassie had given him this token years ago. Their promise.
"Sorry, Cassie… Maybe in another life, things could've been different," he murmured, softly. "Maybe next time I won't be so… detached."
He lingered at the edge of the veil, wind brushing past him, he focused decided this eas the time.
However, before stepping through, he said, barely louder than a breath
"But don't worry about your family. I took care of their troubles. They'll be at peace… for a long time."
And with that, Lucian disappeared into the light.
Also, what Lucian didn't know was that the activation of the Sky Reach World sent ripples far beyond its veil… ripples that alarmed both fiends and mortals across the dreadmoor continent.
Far away, atop a sacred peak bathed in golden sunlight, an old man stirred from deep meditation. His frail body trembled, but his golden eyes gleamed with newfound clarity.
Rising slowly, he stood tall… draped in jet-black robes woven with glowing celestial runes. A gold mantle shimmered behind him like angelic wings forged from flame. Over his robes hung a long, sleeveless leather overcoat, etched in ancient liturgical text with golden thread. At its center, a silver sun-shaped brooch.
"Finally… it's been years since the Sky Reach last stirred," he whispered, his voice gravelly and powerful.
Back near the activated veil, suspended high in the sky.
A man sharp, black horns curled from his forehead, and massive crimson-black wings held him aloft. His orange eyes burned as they fixed upon the veil of green energy.
"Unexpected," he muttered. His voice was loud as lava. "It opened late… fifteen years, not ten."
Beside him hovered a bat-like creature, its voice sharp and mocking.
"If not for the Farstar family losing the token… it wouldn't've taken so long."
The winged man gaze narrowed at the creature.
"And to think... the Sky World was hidden inside something as mundane as a rock formation."
The creature snickered.
But the winged man's gaze flicked between the veil and his companion.
"No matter. The one who activated it carries the token… and we will have it."
Without another word, they descended. The winged man landed beside a towering man in robes, who had just arrived from the mountain.
They exchanged a cold, knowing grins.
"Greetings, Unbreakable Silas," the winged man said.
Silas tilted his head, golden eyes calm. "Speak easy, Infernal Warlord Balthazar."
Then, one by one, others arrived.
Each exuding a suffocating pressure… men and women of immense power and presence.
"Greetings, everyone," Silas called out. "It's been some time."
"Old friends," a smooth voice responded.
From the crowd, a man cloaked in shadow stood beside a young girl.
"Sentinel Kurasame," He said cautiously, eyes around. "I heard… the Xelvarune Kingdom fell by your sword... Is that true?"
Kurasame hovered slightly above the ground, his body wrapped in a swirling mist of shadow and blood-red energy. His dark plate armor pulsed of energy veins, and his skeletal face… half mask, half skull was crowned with white, smoke-like hair, marked by glowing red eyes and eerie crimson cracks along his jawline.
His glowing crimson eyes met his green gaze.
"It's true." He calmly but chilling.
The man scoffed. "That kingdom destroyed by you… a long line of warriors… And you're not worried their descendants will come for their relics?"
Kurasame eyes glowed brighter. "Oh.Perhaps you want these relics..."
A sudden crack appeared under him. "Unfortunately… I got there first."
As the conversation, continued more people arrived. Everyone stop speaking amongst each other… Scared, excited as some never experienced this before, coming from family and there those who went the first time years ago.
Silas raised his hand. Quieting everyone.
"The Sky Reach is open once more. Normally, it awakens every ten years… but today, it has taken fifteen. I trust you're all ready."
He turned, facing the veil of energy.
"As always, during this hunt. Anything claimed inside belongs to yourself, from whoever takes it."
Grins spread across the gathered warriors. Without another word, they began walking… some disappearing into the veil, others flying.
However, Ezekiel remained behind… He floated to his right.
His two swords hovered at his side. One, a jagged crimson blade dripping with energy, alive with corruption. The other, a regal white with blood-red accents, serene in contrast.
A few feet away, a tall, skeletal creature stepped into view…
She stood tall, Her pale white skin was stretched tight over her skeletal, elongated limbs. She wore a tattered crimson kimono adorned with gold and bone, she radiated elegance twisted into horror. Her porcelain mask of a face smiled hauntingly.
Even her finger were elongated tipped with razor-like claws and long arms.
"Miss Lyra," Ezekiel said calmly, "I have a proposition. Get me the token. In exchange, I'll deliver the two Farstar Relics to you."
Her head twisted around at him unnaturally, hollow eyeing him from dark, sunken covered by a partially crown of twisted gold and dried flowers, tangled by her matter black hair.
"You speak boldly… knowing who will come for me if I accept."
Her voice was a whisper that scraped like silk against steel.
"The Farstar… don't forget their debts. Nor forgive their destroyers."
Ezekiel stood still, crossed his arms. "It can't be the weeping empress… fears them."
Both went Silence. Suddenly, a distant sound… like glass breaking beneath water.
Lyra's smile deepened.
"Fear?" she echoed of amusement. "No… They don't have to like me. They don't even have to understand me. But they will fear me."
She stepped forward slowly.
"I burned my family to ash when they tried to sell me for favor. Every branch. Every name. Gone. I became the thing they prayed would never wake beneath peoples names."
She raised her hand, and the air seemed to turn frigid…
"The Farstar think they understand darkness. But they have never weep beneath my feet of what I am."
She let the silence hang… heavy and cold.
Suddenly, she let of a bitter, hollow, dry laugh.
"Fine. I will give the token. Bring me the relics. And let them come. Let them try."
Ezekiel nodded.
Then together, the two stepped into the green veil of energy… and vanished into the Sky Reach.
The token was very important, but when she thought about it the relics can be used for the the now. While the token can always unlock the World when ready, she only need to come when's it open to gain anything.